Reel



Nov. 21, 1950 J. E. JOHNSON EI'AL REEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 31, 1947 W IQVgTORS,

Nov. 21, 1950 J. E. JOHNSON EI'AL REEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 31, 1947 7/ 2 W F! O 1 4 Z FIQ4 FIGZ5 INVENTOR5,

Nov. 21, 1950 J. E. JOHNSON EI'AL REEL Filed Jan. 31; 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS,

Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE land, Ohio, assignors to Benjamin Reel Products, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 31, 1947,, Serial No. 725,578

16 Claims. 1

This invention relates to reels, and more particularly to reels of the type whereon electric cords or wires are wound and from which the cords may be unwound in order to enable the plug-in connectors of said cords to be secured to the appropriate receptacles for operating various electrical appliances.

The general object of our invention is to produce a reel and reel assembly which is simple in construction and economical of production and which is convenient of manipulation. Further and more limited objects of the invention will be accomplished and realized by the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. '1 represents a plan view of one embodiment of our reel assembly, the cover being omitted and the pawl and the direction in which the coil spring extends therefrom when the nose of the pawl is in engagement with the ratchet tooth being shown in full lines while the pawl and the position of the spring with reference to the same when the nose of the pawl occupies a position between groups of ratchet teeth being shown in dot-anddash lines; 'Fig. 2 a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, the cover being present; Fig. 3 a detailed bottom plan view of the central portion of the reel assembly; Fig. 4 a sectional View of the upper central portion of the reel assembly I taken on the corresponding portion of the line 4-4 and showing the connections between the wires of the cord and the upper concentric slip rings; Fig. 5 a diagrammatic plan view showing in full lines the pawl in stopping engagement with a ratchet tooth and in dot-and-dash lines the positions occupied by the pawl as the spool rotates; Fig. 6 a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrat ing another embodiment of our invention and indicating schematically by dot-and-dash lines two positions assumed by the pawl with reference to two groups of ratchet teeth and the space between the same as the groups of ratchet teeth are rotated with reference to the pawl; Fig. 7 a sectional view taken on the line 11 of Fig. -6 and looking in the direction of the arrows, the cover being in position; and Fig. 8 a fragmentary view illustrating a modification of the pawl and ratchet mechanisms shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7.

In the embodiments of our invention shown and described herein, the reel is of the type wherein an electric wire cord is wound upon the reel drum, from which it can beunwound, against the resistance of a spirally coiled spring, by a pull embodiments includes a novel manner of efiec'ting a connection between the inner ends of the cord wires and wires which may lead from each of said reels to a desired point of use. Each of the said embodiments also involves a novel construction and arrangement of cooperating pawland-ratchet mechanisms which contribute to the convenience and efficiency of operation of our reels.

The particulars wherein the foregoing operations may be realized will now be described, it being noted that, for convenience of description, the terms top, bottom, upper and lower will be employed herein in setting forth the relati'ons of the parts to one another but without any intention thereby 'to limit the positions which said parts shall actually occupy when our reels are in use.

Describing by reference characters the various parts shown in the drawings, and first in connection with'Figs. 1-5, inclusive, 1'0 denotes the cylindrical side wall and i l the bottom wall of a casing wherein the operating .parts of the reel in said views are located, it being noted that the bottom wall is provided with a central opening I2, for access to the parts within the drum portion of the reel. The casing is provided with a cover plate l3 which may be removably secured to the top of the cylindrical wall H] by means of tongues I' l extending beyond the top of the latter and projected through openings 15 provided therefor in the cover plate and being bent down thereafter into contact with said plate.

Rotatably mounted within the said housing is thespool of the reel, the same comprising a central cylindrical drum IE having an annular seat ll extending around the bottom thereof and having secured thereto a radially extending bottom retaining member or flange 18 of the reel. The upper flanged retaining member I9 is shown as formed integrally with the top of the drum [6 and as extending radially outwardly therefrom and having a cylindrical wall or element 20 that is projected upwardly from the periphery thereof.

2| denotes a tubular support located centrally within the drum and extending upwardly there'- through and being provided, above the plane of the flanged retaining member 19, with a plate 22 of generally circular form, preferably integral therewith. The central support extends above the plate 22 and is provided adjacent to its upper end with an annular seat 23 on which the cover plate [3 is non-rotatably supported and which cover plate in turn supports the housing members exerted upon the said cord. Each of the said is 10 and II.

2:! denotes a spring of the clock-spring type which is connected at its inner end to the hub portion 2P of the center support, between the plate 22 and the cover plate 13, as by means of a screw 25, the said spring being wound spirally about the said hub portion and having its outer end secured to the wall 20, as shown at 26 (Fig. 1), and being supported at its bottom edge by radial ribs l9 on the retaining member I9.

2? denotes a lower annular supporting member of insulating material which is mounted upon the bottom of the central tubular support 2| by means of projections 2'1 keyed into slots 28 provided therefor in the said central support and by being additionally held upon said support by means of a spring clamp 29 which is mounted upon the lower end of the said central support and secured to a horizontally extending annular shoulder 39 on said support-see Figs. 2 and 3. This lower supporting member is provided with inner and outer concentric conducting slip rings 3| and 32, respectively, embedded therein and extending above the upper surface therof. The outer of these rings is provided with a leg 32 extending downwardly therefrom and having an inturned flange 33 at its bottom; and the inner of said rings is provided with a similar downwardly extending leg 31 having an out-turned flange 3| at its bottom, the said flanges 33 and 3H having threaded therethrough and into the insulating body thereabove screws 35 and 34, respectively, by means of which conductor wires 36 and 31, respectively, are secured to said flanges, these wires being shown as extending upwardly through the central support 2i.

38 denotes a second supporting member also located within the drum I6 and having inner and outer concentric conducting slip rings 32! and 50, respectively, which project therebeneath and which are adapted to engage the tops of the inner and outer slip rings 3i and 32, respectively. The outer of these slip rings has an upwardly extending leg M located in a slot I38 provided therefor in one side of the second supporting member and to which a clamping screw 41 is threadedly connected, the said clamping screw serving to secure to said leg the inner end of one of the wires 32 of the electrical wire cord 43 which is wound upon the drum between the retaining members 58 and H9. The inner clamping ring 38 is provided with a leg 38 which extends outwardly and upwardly therefrom and to the upper portion 38 of said leg a clamping screw 44 is threadedly connected, the said clamping screw securing to the upper extension of said leg the inner end of the other wire 42 of the said cord wire. The heads of the screws 4| and 44 project into slots 45 and 46 which are provided therefor in the upper portion of the wall of the drum l6 and which slots are shown as extending into the radially inwardly extending portion of the retaining member [9 (see Figs. 2 and 4).

The outer end of the cord wire 43 is shown as extending through an opening provided therefor in the cylindrical wall it of the housing and is there provided with a plug 47 whereby it may be connected with a socket.

From the foregoing description, taken with the drawing, it will be obvious that when the prongs of the plug 47 are inserted into a proper electrical socket, current will be supplied to the upper rings in the upper insulating supporting member 38 and will be conducted thereby to the slip rings in the lower insulating supporting member 21 and thence to the cord wires 36 and 'j 4 37, the construction enabling contact to be preserved between the upper and lower slip rings as the spool is rotated, it being noted further that, because the slip rings extend more than i8il each around the central support 2|, this contact will be secured.

The plate 22 is of circular shape and is shown as provided with a plurality of projections spaced preferably equi-angularly apart. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-5, the projections consist of ratchet teeth 48 arranged in groups, the ends of the groups being separated by recesses located radially inwardly of said projection groups and bounded by arcuate walls t9, preferably concentrio with the central support 2|, the center of which coincides with the central axis of the reel. The opposite ends of each projection group are provided with inclined surfaces 50 forming each an obtuse angle with the portion of the arcuate wall from which it extends.

5| denotes generally the body of a pawl which is supported upon a pivot 52, shown as a screw secured to the flanged retaining member I9. The pawl is provided with a nose 53 which is defined by a straight wall 54 and an outwardly curved wall 55 extending therefrom, the pawl also having a projection 56 on the opposite side of the pivotal support from the nose and to which one end of a coil spring 57 is connected, the other end being connected to a stud 58 projecting upwardly from the retaining member l9, near the peripheral wall 28 thereof.

It will be noted, by inspection of Figs. 1 and 5 in particular, that the length of the pawl from its pivotal support to the nose thereof is less than the distance of the pivotal support from the arcuate walls 49 also that when the drum rotates to a position to bring the nose of the pawl in registration with a recess, as shown in Fig 1, a line extending radially from the center of the central supporting member 2| through the center of the pivotal support also extends through the axis of the coil spring; also that this line intersects the curved surface 55 of the pawl 5| at one side of the wall 54.

The number of projection groups of ratchet teeth are varied in accordance with the diameter of the spool. In the drawing, a spool of small diameter is illustrated, and only three such groups are shown; but the number of groups will be increased with the increase in diameter of the spool, the distance between the projection groups being substantially the same in different diameters of spools.

Owing to the manner of mounting the projection groups and the ratchet teeth thereon upon the plate 22 and to the construction and the manner of mounting the pawl, the toe of the pawl will ride over the projections and the teeth thereof while the drum is being rotated in either direction, as will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 5, wherein the pawl is shown in dot-anddash lines in four positions which it assumes relatively to the plate 22 and the groups of teeth thereon but wherein the nose of the pawl will firmly engage a tooth when the winding or unwinding movement of the spool is stopped and when (as is usually the case) a subsequent slight pull of the cord wire 43 ensues. When this happens, the nose of the pawl will engage the teeth, as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 5; and, owing to the manner in which the pawl is constructed and mounted and the manner in which the spring 57 is connected thereto, the spring and pawl will constitute a yielding toggle type of look for holding the spool against rotation until the pawl shall have been disengaged from a ratchet tooth or projection by a pull on the .cord.

In Figs. -6 and "'7 there shown a modification of the construction shown the preceding views, wherein like parts are identified by the same numerals as are employed in connection with the preceding views but wherein the projections with their groups of ratchet teeth are mounted upon an annular plate 59 which is secured to and within the top of the wall 20. The ratchet teeth on said projections are indicated at '9, with radially outwardly extending recesses El between said projections having their walls .62 substantially concentric with the central supporting member 2|, each projection .being united with the walls 6.2 adjacent thereto by means of inclined walls 62"- each forming an obtuse angle with the wall 62.

The pawl which is employed in this case is substantially identical in construction with the one shown in the preceding views and comprises a body 5| having a nose 53 formed between walls 54 and 5.5, but the pivotal support in this latter case consists of a post .83 secured to and depending from the .cover plate 1:3, with the end of the spring 5] which is opposite to that which is connected to the pawl being also connected to a stud 64 carried by and depending from the said cover. While the pawl shown in Fig. '6 is not rotatable about the central support 2|, the relative positions which it assumes as the ratchet-carrying plate 59 is rotated are shown diagrammatically in dot-and-dash lines, it being noted that when the pawl, shown in full lines, has been disengaged from a ratchet tooth and a winding movement is imparted to the spool, the pawl, although not being carried around the central support, first assumes a position relative to the projection which it has engagedand the one next approaching it that is indicated schematically at A; and when a projection thereafter passes the nose of the pawl as the plate 59 is moved further in the same direction, the curved outer surface 55 of the pawl will ride over the ratchet teeth, as shown in the dot-and-dash line position of the pawl at B. The position which it assumes with reference to these projections and the groups of teeth therein as an unwinding movement i imparted to the spool will be evident by reference to Fig. 5.

In Fig. 8 there is shown schematically a further modification of our invention which is similar to that shown in Figs. 1-5 inclusive, but wherein the plate 22 is provided with opposed projections 65 separated by recesses having arouatewalls 66, each projection having a wall 61 at each end thereof which forms an obtuse angle with respect to the adjacent arcuate wall 66. The pawl 68 is pivotally supported intermediate of its ends at 1!! and has a coil spring 51 connected at one end to a stud ll thereon, the opposite end of the spring being connected to a stud 58 projecting upwardly from the peripheral portion of the upper retaining member [9 of the spool.

The pawl is provided with a compound curved peripheral surface. The major portion of said curved surface is concentric with the pivotal support 11] but merges with a surface the center of curvature whereof is located at T3 at one side of the pivotal support. This latter surface projects beyond and is eccentric with respect to the major portion of the curved surface and its extreme end is connected to the major portion by a wall 68?, thus forming a nose at this portion of the'pawl.

When the spool is rotated by the spring 24 in a direction to wind the cord upon the drum in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the nose of the pawl will strike one or more of the inclined walls 6 and the rounded surface will then ride along the arcuate surface or surfaces of one or more of the projections until the winding movement is stopped. A slight pull upon the cord will cause the pawl to be rocked until its eccentric locking portion engages the arcuate surface of the projection 65, as indicated at C, and with which arcuate surface the rounded :surface .of the pawl adjacent to the locking portion has been in sliding engagement. The pawl will be held in locking engagement by the spring 51. A pull upon the cord 43 will overcome the action of the spring .5], and the drum may then be rotated in either direction.

When the spool is rotated in the reverse direc-. tion, by pulling out the cord 43, the rounded surface adjacent to the end of the nose of the pawl will be struck by one .or more of the inclined walls .6] and will assume the position with refer-v ence to the arcuate surfaces of theportion, indicated at D; but, upon releasing the pull upon the cord and allowing the spring 24 to impart a winding movement to the spool, the pawl will be rotated by engagement of its circular surface with the appropriate arcuate wall until the eccentric portion adjacent to the nose of the pawl stops such rotation and the pawl will assume the locking position as indicated at C.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A reel assembly comprising a spool having an inner drum uponwhich an electrical wire cord may be wound and upper and lower retaining members secured thereto and extending radially therefrom to form with the inner drum means for retaining a cord wound upon said drum, a central non-rotatable support within said drum and having its upper end extending beyond the said drum and beyond the upper retaining member, a plate element on said central non-rotatable member extending radially therefrom above the plane of the upper retaining member, an annular element extending upwardly from the upper retaining member and surrounding the plate element, one of said elements being provided with projections and with recesses between said projections and each of the said projections having a pawl engaging surface and a pawl pivotally supported from the other of said elements and having a projecting portion adaptedto engage each of said projections, a coil spring secured at one end to a portion of said pawl which is on the opposite side of the pivotal support for the pawl from the projecting portion thereof and secured at its opposite end to the element whereon the pawl is pivotally mounted and serving to hold the projecting portion against the pawl-engaging surfaces of said projections when the said projecting portion and surfaces are brought into engagement with each other by the winding movement of the said drum, and a spirally wound spring secured at one end to a non-rotatable part of the reel assembly and at its other end to the spool for opposing the unwinding movement of the drum by a pull exerted upon the cord.

2. In the reel assembly set forth in claim 1, the projecting portion of the pawl being a nose, and the paw1 having an outwardly curved surface extendin from the outer end of the nose thereof and adapted to engage the sides of the said projections which are opposite the pawlengaging surfaces thereof when the drum is rotated in an unwinding direction by a pull upon the cord woundthereupon.

3. In the reel assembly set forth in claim 1, a line extending radially from the center of the drum also extending rearwardly of the projecting portion of the pawl, through the pivotal support for the latter, and through'the axis of the spring when the projecting portion of the pawl is positioned in a recess between the projections on the element with which the said pawl cooperates, whereby the pawl will ride over the projections when an unwindin movement is imparted to the drum by the pull exerted upon a cord wound thereupon but will form with said coil spring and the projecting portion of said pawl a yieldable toggle locking action between the nose and the nose-engaging surfaces of the said projections when the drum is rotated in a reverse direction.

4. A reel assembly comprising a spool having an inner drum upon which an electrical wire cord may be wound and upper and lower retaining members secured thereto and extending radially therefrom to form withthe inner drum means for retaining a cord wound upon said drum, a central non-rotatable support with in said drum and having its upper end extending beyond the said drum and beyond the upper retainin member, a plate on said central nonrotatable member extending radially therefrom above the plane of the top of the upper retaining member, groups of ratchet teeth on said plate separated by recesses, a pawl pivotally mounted upon said upper retaining member and having a nose adapted to engage said ratchet teeth, and a coil spring secured at one end to said upper retaining member and engaging the pawl and adapted to hold the nose of said pawl in engagement with a ratchet tooth of each group, pairs of contact members supported respectively by a non-rotatable portion of the assembly and by the spool, and means for electrically connectin one of said pairs of contact members with wires at the inner end of a cord on the spool and for connecting the contact members of the other of said pairs with wires leading to a desired point of use, and a spirally wound spring secured at one end to a non-rotatable part of the reel assembly and at its other end to the spool for opposing the unwinding movement of the drum by the pull exerted thereupon by a cord.

5. In the reel assembly set forth in claim 4, the coil spring being secured at one end to a portion of the pawl which is on the opposite side of the pivotal support for said pawl from the nose thereof, a line extending radially from the center of the drum also extending rearwardly of the nose of the pawlthrough the pivotal support for the latter and through the axis of the spring when the nose of the pawl is positioned in a recess between the ratchet teeth on the plate whereby the pawl will ride over the ratchet teeth when an unwinding movement is imparted to the drum by the pull exerted upon the cord but will form with said spring and the nose thereof a yieldable toggle locking action between the nose and the nose engaging surfaces of the said ratchet teeth when the drum is rotated in a reverse direction.

6. A reel assembly comprising a spool having an inner drum upon which an electrical wire cord may be wound and upper and lower retaining members secured thereto and extend-v ing radially therefrom to form with the inner drum means for retaining a cord wound upon said drum, a central non-rotatable support within said drum and having its upper end extending beyond the said drum and beyond the upper retaining member, a plate non-rotatably supported by said central non-rotatable member and extending radially therefrom above the plane of the top of the upper retaining member, projections concentric with the center of rotation of said spool and supported by the upper retaining member, there bein radially outwardly extending recesses interposed between the said projections, a pawl pivotally mounted upon the said plate and located between the projections and the center of rotation of the said spool, the said pawl having a radially outwardly extending nose adapted to engage said projections, and a coil spring secured at its inner end to the said plate and at its outer end to the portion of the paw1 which is located radially inwardly from its pivotal support, the projections being so positioned as to be engaged by the nose of the pawl as the spool is rotated and the recesses between the said teeth being of such depth as to enable the spool to be rotated without engagement of the nose of the pawl with the walls of said recesses, and a spirally wound spring secured at one end to a non-rotatable part of the reel assembly and at its other end to the spool for opposing the unwinding movement of the drum by the pull exerted thereupon by the cord.

7. In the reel assembly set forth in claim 6, the periphera1 portion of the upper retaining member having an upwardly extending cylindrical wall, and an annular plate having the projections formed thereon, said annular plate being secured to the said cylindrical wall.

8. In the reel assembly set forth in claim 6, a line extending radially from the center of the drum also extending rearwardly of the nose of the pawl, through the pivotal support of the latter and through the axis of the spring when the nose of the pawl is positioned in a recess between two of the projections whereby the pawl will ride over the said projections when an un winding movement is imparted to the drum by the pull exerted upon the cord but will form with said spring and the nose thereof a yieldable toggle locking action between the nose and a nose engaging surface of a projection, when the drum is rotated in a reverse direction.

9. A reel assmbly comprising a spool having an inner drum upon which an electrical wire cord may be wound and upper and lower retaining members secured thereto and extending radially therefrom to form with the inner drum means for retaining a cord wound upon said drum, a central non-rotatable support within said drum and having its upper end extending beyond the said drum and beyond the upper retaining memher, a plate non-rotatably supported by said central non-rotatable member and extending radial- 1y therefrom above the plane of the top of the upper retaining member, radially inwardly extending ratchet teeth having their ends equidistantly spaced from the center of rotation of said spool and supported by the upper retaining member, there being radially outwardly extending recesses interposed between the said ratchet teeth, a pawl pivotally mounted upon the said plate and located between the ratchet teeth and the center of rotation of the said spool, the said pawl having a radially outwardly exascogrzs tending nose adapted to: engage. said ratchet teeth and a coil spring secured at its: inner end to the said plate and at its: outer end to. the portion. of the pawl WhlCh is located radially inwardly from its pivotal support, the ratchet teeth being: so positioned as to be engaged by the nose: of the pawl as; the spool is rotated and the recesses. between: the said teeth being of such depth: as to enable the spool to be rotated with out-engagement; of the nose of the pawl with the walls of said; recesses; and. a spirallywound spring secured at one; end: to a. non-rotatable. part: of the reel assembly and at its other end to the spool for opposing. the. unwinding movement of the dtum. by the pull? exerted thereupon by the cord.

10. In the reel assembly set forth in claim 9, the plate which is non-rotatably supported on the central non-rotatable member being a cover plate for the. spool, the upper-retaining member being provided with an upwardly extending peripheral cylindrical wall, an annular plate secured to the upper portion. of. the said cylindricall wall parallel with. and. in close proximity to the said cover. plate and having the ratchet teeth carried on. the. inner periphery thereof, and the pivotal mounting. for the. pawl comprising a post extending downwardly from the: cover plate and the inner end of the. coil. spring being secured to a stud extending downwardly from the. cover plate.

11. In the reel assembly set forth in claim 10, the spirally wound spring being secured at its outer end to the cylindrical wall beneath the annular plate and having its inner end secured to the central non-rotatable support.

12. In the reel assembly set forth in claim 9, the ratchet teeth being arranged in groups on equi-angula-rly spaced projections," each projection having inclined walls at the ends of the recesses and the pawl being provided with an outwardly curved surface extending from the outer end of the nose thereof and adapted to ride over the inclined surfaces of the projection and the ratchet teeth thereon as the spool is rotated in a cord-winding direction, said coil spring serving to hold the nose of the pawl in engagement with a tooth of the appropriate group when the spool is rotated in a cord-Winding direction, and

a spirally wound spring secured at one end to a non-rotatable part of the reel assembly and at its other end to the spool for opposing the unwinding movement of the drum by the pull exerted thereupon by the cord.

13. A reel assembly comprising a Spool having an inner drum upon which an electrical wire cord may be wound and upper and lower retaining members secured thereto and extending radially therefrom to form with the inner drum means for retaining a cord wound upon said drum, a central non-rotatable support within said drum, a supporting member of insulating material within said drum and secured to said central support, concentric slip rings mounted within said supporting member and having their outer ends exposed for contact through a sur face of said supporting member, a second supporting member of insulating material within said drum and rotatable therewith and surround ing said central support and having a surface opposed to the surface of the first mentioned supporting member through which the slip rings are exposed for contact, concentric slip rings mounted within the second supporting member with their outer ends engaging the Outer ends of taining the spool. in. a position which: it may as;-

su-me. due to; the: winding. or unwinding. uponor from. the drum, a spirally wound spring. secured. at one end to. a non-rotatable part of the reel assembly and at its other end to the. spool for opposingv the unwinding movement of the; drunr by the pulii exerted. thereupon by the cord, said rotatable slip ring supporting member being. located within the upper portion of the drum of the spool and the: means, for connecting. wires from the cord to the slip: rings thereof compris ing slots extending through the upper portion of said drum and clamping members having their outer? ends mounted in said slots, respectively, and having their inner ends mounted ins the said supporting member and electrically engaging. the respective slip rings and connecting; the ends of the respective wires to the respective sliprings, and the non-rotatable slip. ring supporting member being located below the rotatable slip ring supporting. membenand the: means: for connecting wires to the slip rings thereof being secured to the bottom thereof.

14. A reel assembly comprising a spool having an inner drum upon which an electrical wire cord may be wound and upper and lower retaining members secured thereto and extending radially therefrom to form with the inner drum means for retaining a cord Wound upon said drum, a central non-rotatable support within said drum and having its upper end extending beyond the said drum and beyond the upper retaining member, a plate on said central non-rotatable member extending radially therefrom above the plane of the top of the upper retaining member, ratchet teeth on said plate, a pawl pivotally mounted upon said upper retaining member and having a nose adapted to engage said ratchet teeth, and a coil spring secured at one end to said upper retaining member and engaging the pawl and adapted to hold the nose of said pawl in engagement with a ratchet tooth, pairs of concentric members within said drum with the members of one pair engaging the members of the other pair and supported respectively by the central non-rotatable support and the drum, and means for electrically connectin the contact members of one of said pairs with wires at the inner end of a cord on the spool and for connecting the contact members of the other of said pair with wires leading to a desired point of use, and a spirally wound spring secured at one end to a non-rotatable part of the reel assembly and at its other end to the spool for opposing the unwinding movement of the drum by the pull exerted thereupon by a cord, a line extending radially from the center of the drum also extending rearwardly of the nose of the pawl through the pivotal support for the lat ter and through the axis of the spring when the nose of the pawl is positioned in a recess between the ratchet teeth on the plate whereby the pawl will ride over the ratchet teeth when unwinding movement is imparted to the drum by the pull exerted upon the cord but will form ;with said spring and the nose thereof a yieldable toggle locking action between the nose and the nose engagin surfaces of the said ratchet teeth when the drum is rotated in a reverse direction.

15. A reel assembly comprising a drum upon which an electrical wire cord may be wound, a central non-rotatable support for said drum, a plate-like member on said central non-rotatable member extending radially therefrom and having circumferentially spaced groups of ratchet teeth formed thereon, a pawl pivotally mounted intermediate its end upon a portion of said drum and having a nose adapted to engage said ratchet teeth, and a coil spring secured at one end to said drurn'and engaging the radially outer end of the pawl and adapted to hold the nose of said pawl in engagement with a ratchet tooth, said pawl being positioned so that a line extending radially from the center of the drum through the pivotal support for the pawl will pass along the axis of the sprin when the nose of the pawl is positioned between the groups of ratchet teeth on the plate and the spring is relaxed.

16. A reel assembly comprising a drum upon which an electrical wire cord may be wound, a central non-rotatable support for said drum, a plate-like member on said central non-rotatable member extendin radially therefrom and having ratchet teeth formed thereon, a pawl pivotally mounted upon a portion of said drum and having a nose adapted to engage said ratchet teeth, and a coil spring secured at one end to said drum and engaging the pawl and adapted to hold the nose of said pawl in engagement with a ratchet tooth, the longitudinal axis of said pawl being substantially on a radius of the drum at all times, said spring forming with said pawl a yieldable locking toggle for said drum, said pawl'having a curved surface connecting to'the nose thereof to facilitate unreeling on any electrical line carried by the assembly.

JAMES E. JOHNSON. CHARLES R. YIRAVA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 870,736 Mitchell Nov, 12, 1907 885,246 Hall Apr. 21, 1908 2,159,00 i Bosch May 23, 1939 2,322,011 French June 15, 1943 2,375,917 Gross May 15, 1945 2,391,840 Meletti Dec. 25, 1945 2,416,498 Ruddock Feb. 25, 1947 2,486,167 Jurasedich Oct. 25, 1949 

